Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

The present disclosure provides energy generation systems that include a
conduit loop having two portions with one portion being subterranean and
the other portion being above ground. These systems can also include a
power turbine coupled to both portions of the conduit loop and a pump
coupled to both portions of the conduit loop. Processes for generating
energy are also provided.

Claims:

1. An energy generation system comprising:a conduit loop having two
portions, one portion being subterranean and the other portion being
above ground;a power turbine coupled to both portions of the conduit
loop; anda pump coupled to both portions of the conduit loop.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the power turbine is configured to
provide electric power.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the above ground portion resides
proximate fan exhaust of an air conditioning unit.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the loop contains an expansive fluid.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the loop contains a refrigerant.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the loop contains a hydrofluorocarbon.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the loop contains a
hydrofluorochlorocarbon.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the loop contains HFC-125.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the loop contains HFC-32.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the loop contains HCFC-22.

11. A process for generating energy, the process comprising:providing two
portions of a conduit loop, wherein one of the portions is subterranean
and the other of the portions is above ground;utilizing the expansive
nature of the fluid to propel the turbine of a pressure differential
turbine; andcooling the fluid in one of the portions of the conduit loop.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein the other of the portions of the loop
is a grid of the conduit extending over a reflective material.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the grid of conduit is coated with a
thermal absorption material.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the thermal absorption material is a
dark colored paint.

15. The process of claim 12 wherein the fluid is cooled within the
subterranean portion of the loop.

16. The process of claim 11 wherein the other of the portions of the loop
is grid of conduit.

17. The process of claim 16 wherein the fluid is cooled within the grid.

18. The process of claim 11 wherein the other of the portions of the loop
extends above an exhaust of an air conditioning unit.

19. A process for generating energy, the process comprising:providing two
portions of a conduit loop, wherein one of the portions is within the
foundation of a dwelling and the other of the portions is outside the
dwelling;utilizing the expansive nature of the fluid to propel the
turbine of a pressure differential turbine; andcooling the fluid in one
of the portions of the conduit loop.

20. The process of claim 19 wherein the fluid is cooled in the portion of
the loop within the foundation of the dwelling.

Description:

[0002]Currently it is becoming more and more important to conserve as much
energy as possible. This conservation is being sought through various
avenues. Example avenues are the exploitation of energy that is wasted in
everyday use in commercial and residential applications. For example,
there are opportunities to conserve and/or utilize energy where
residential and/or commercial dwellings are heated or cooled during the
winter and summer months. The present disclosure provides energy
generation systems and methods that in some embodiments take advantage of
these heating and cooling periods.

SUMMARY

[0003]The present disclosure provides energy generation systems that
include a conduit loop having two portions with one portion being
subterranean and the other portion being above ground. These systems can
also include a power turbine coupled to both portions of the conduit loop
and a pump coupled to both portions of the conduit loop.

[0004]Processes for generating energy are provided that include providing
two portions of a conduit loop wherein one of the portions is
subterranean and the other of the portions is above ground. The process
can further provide utilizing the expansive nature of the fluid to propel
the turbine of a pressure differential turbine and the process can also
include cooling the fluid in one of the portions of the conduit loop.

[0005]Processes for generating energy also include providing two portions
of a conduit loop wherein one of the portions is within the foundation of
the dwelling and the other of the portions is outside the dwelling. The
process can further provide utilizing the expansive nature of the fluid
to propel the turbine of a pressure differential turbine and cooling the
fluid in one of the portions of the conduit loop.

DRAWINGS

[0006]Embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to
the following accompanying drawings.

[0007]FIG. 1 is an energy generation system according to an embodiment.

[0008]FIG. 2 is an energy generation system according to an embodiment.

[0009]FIG. 3 is an energy generation system according to an embodiment.

[0010]FIG. 4 is an energy generation system according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

[0011]This disclosure is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional
purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws "to promote the progress of science and
useful arts" (Article 1, Section 8).

[0012]Energy generation systems and processes will be described with
reference to FIGS. 1-4. Referring first to FIG. 1, an energy generation
system 10 includes a conduit loop 12 having two portions, portion 16
being subterranean and a portion 14 being above ground. Portion 16 can
include a tank or set of looped coil extending the residence time of
fluid within the subterranean portion. This conduit loop can be a PVC
pipe and/or metal pipe, for example. It can also be flexible tubing that
can be provided to subterranean portions via horizontal drilling, for
example. System 18 can include a power turbine coupled to both portions
14 and 16.

[0013]Power turbine 18 can be a pressure differential turbine, for
example, such as a turbine that takes advantage of the expansive nature
of a fluid. Example turbines include those turbines that can utilize the
vapor pressure exhibited by a fluid when transitioning from the liquid
state to the gaseous state. Example turbines can include low pressure
turbines. Turbine suitable for utilization in the systems and methods of
the present disclosure can include the BP-50 series offered by Trigen
Ewing Power of Turner Falls Mass. These turbines can be purchased to
utilize steam expansion but can easily be retrofitted with seals to allow
for the use of refrigerant expansion such as the fluids described herein.

[0014]System 10 can also include a pump 20. Pump 20 can be an industrial
size pump capable of removing fluid from loop portion 14 and providing it
to loop portion 16. Referring again to power turbine 18, it can be
configured to provide electric power.

[0015]According to example implementations, the fluid within loop 12 can
include an expansive fluid such as a refrigerant. Example refrigerants
can include hydrofluorocarbons and/or hydrofluorochlorocarbons. Example
hydrofluorocarbons include HFC-125 and HFC-32. Example
hydrofluorochlorocarbons include HCFC-22. Commercially available fluids
such as R410A may be utilized as well.

[0016]According to example implementations, fluid within subterranean
portion 16 for example can be cooled to its liquid or less entropic state
and wherein the fluid can then be provided to an above ground portion 14
where it expands to propel turbine 18 and provide power. Upon expansion,
the fluid can be provided away from portion 14 via pump 20 and returned
to portion 16 where it again is condensed or returned to a less entropic
state for recycling back to turbine 18. In this continuous fashion power
can be generated utilizing the expansive nature of the fluid.

[0017]Referring to FIG. 2 system 22 is provided wherein loop 24 includes
both a subterranean portion 26 and an above ground portion 28. In this
embodiment, for example, fluid can be provided to within subterranean
portion 26 and the flow of which is controlled via pump 30. Fluid may be
provided proximate the exhaust of an air conditioning unit. According to
example implementations, portion 26 can be within the foundation of a
dwelling, for example a residential or commercial dwelling and it can be
utilized to cool or heat fluid within that portion. According to other
implementations, loop portion 28 can bypass AC unit 32 and provide for
the cooling of fluid at the exterior of the home during winter months,
for example. In this implementation cooling fluid can be provided to
portion 26 where entropy can be increased and this increased entropy
fluid can be provided to turbine 34, thereby providing power during both
winter and summer months, for example.

[0018]Referring to FIG. 3, another implementation system 40 is provided.
System 40 can include a field of conduit 42 that is part of a loop with a
subterranean portion 44. According to example implementations, between
portions 44 and 42 can be turbine 48 as well as pump 46. When utilizing
this configuration field 42 can be placed over a reflective material such
as mirrors and/or white coating and the conduit of field 42 can be coated
with a thermally absorptive material. Example thermally absorptive
material can include dark colored paint, for example. According to
example implementations fluid within system 40 can be provided to
subterranean portion 44 where entropy is reduced and then provided to
field 42 where entropy is increased. According to example
implementations, field 42 can increase entropy to the vapor phase. Under
this vapor phase this more highly pressurized fluid can run turbine 48
and generate power therefrom. Upon passing through turbine 48 fluid can
be returned to portion 44 where entropy is reduced and the fluid returns
to more of a liquid state than a vapor phase. Referring to FIG. 4 and
according to another implementation, system 40 can be configured to
provide a field of conduit 52 that exists during the winter months in a
relatively cold atmosphere at a temperature that is much cooler than the
subterranean temperature wherein portion 54 resides. According to this
example implementation, fluid can be provided from region 52 where it is
cooled to a low entropy state into subterranean portion 54 where the
entropy state increases and this increased entropy state can be utilized
to drive turbine 56.

[0019]In compliance with the statute, embodiments of the invention have
been described in language more or less specific as to structural and
methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the entire
invention is not limited to the specific features and/or embodiments
shown and/or described, since the disclosed embodiments comprise forms of
putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed
in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the
appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine
of equivalents.